On March 28th 2024, Felix Martin of Hot Chip returned to Victoria after 7 years for a DJ set at Capital Ballroom. Joining him on the decks was Vancouver’s Mr. Stee and together the two brought a night of groove and thumping bass to an energetic crowd. Is there a better way to spend the Thursday prior to a long weekend? I don’t think so but if you don’t believe me, stay tuned to hear more about this night under the lasers.
Mr. Stee was on opening duties and his well-curated selection of tracks was heard and enjoyed by many. It didn’t take long before the dance floor was packed with eager dancers. Everywhere you’d turn, there was someone wearing flashy attire as they let the sounds of Mr. Stee take over their body. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what that sound is but the vision was all the same: make sure that crowd gets down. With hints of Disco, Groove, House and more, Mr. Stee’s opening set was an unforgettable one.
When the music video for “I Feel Better” by Hot Chip was released, I was instantly hooked. A boy band is visited by bald Jesus and a floating head shooting lasers into the club. If you’ve never seen that music video, you’d probably think I’m nuts. I’m not saying you’re wrong about me being crazy, but you need to watch the video for yourself to truly understand its glory. So, when I finally turned 19 and I noticed Hot Chip was having a DJ set at Rifflandia 10, you knew I was stoked to see it. Felix Martin provided the grooves during that set, and the crowd loved it. Now the question was, how would a Hot Chip DJ set be 7 years later? With Felix’s return to the island, it truly felt nostalgic to hear his set. The mix featured some Hot Chip classics and other hidden gems. By the 10-minute mark of his set, I had to head to the back of the venue because the front became heavily packed with dancers who let the groove take over their bodies. I think it’s fairly easy to say that Hot Chip’s return to Victoria was a success.
Victoria’s dance passion is truly indescribable. As the city becomes more expensive by the day, people look for an escape from reality. Even if it was only for a night, those who packed Capital Ballroom looked to be worry free and it’s thanks to Felix Martin of Hot Chip and Mr. Stee. It won’t be long until the next dance opportunity for Victoria, but I can see this night going down in history as a very memorable night.
